Rodolph Austin

Rodolph Austin

Austin playing for Leeds United in 2012
Personal information
Full nameRodolph William Austin[1]
Date of birth1 June 1985
Place of birthClarendon Parish, Jamaica
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionCentral midfielder
Club information
Current team
Leeds United
Number4
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2005–2009Portmore United75(6)
2008–2012SK Brann90(15)
2012–Leeds United100(8)
National team‡
2004–Jamaica71(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:05, 25 April 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 3 April 2013

Rodolph 'Rudy' William Austin (born 1 June 1985) is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays for English club Leeds United as a midfielder. Austin also formerly captained the side.[2] He is also captain of the Jamaican national team. He is renowned as a tough tackling central midfielder who can play in attacking and defensive midfield and also as a right winger and as well as a central defender.[3][4]

Club career

Portmore United

Austin started his career at Portmore United in Jamaica, where he won the two domestic league titles and the CFU Club Championship.

Brann

An attempt by Stoke City to bring Austin to the club failed in August 2008, when he was refused a work permit on appeal.[5] Austin went on to sign a one-year loan deal with Brann, after an agreement was reached between Brann, Portmore United and Stoke. Stoke would have the option to buy the player until 1 February 2009, and if they opted not to buy the player, Brann would have the option to buy until 30 June.

Austin made his Brann debut in the 1–3 defeat against Bodø/Glimt on 31 August 2008, coming on as a substitute in the last 20 minutes. He debuted in European competition three weeks later with a 2–0 win against Deportivo de La Coruña in the UEFA Cup. Stoke didn't activate their option because Austin couldn't get a work permit in England, and on 27 February 2009, Austin signed a four-year deal with Brann in a transfer worth £1,000,000.

In January 2011, Austin was subject to a bid from Queens Park Rangers under manager Neil Warnock after a trial spell at the club, however Brann rejected the bid.[6] After playing 25 matches and scoring seven goals during the 2011 season, Austin won the SK Brann Player of the Season award. He also won the NISO Award as the best player in the 2011 Tippeligaen.[7]

On 13 July 2012, Austin was linked with a move to Leeds United, where Warnock now were in charge after he was sacked by QPR in 2011, and Leeds were said to have had a £200,000 bid rejected.[8][9] Austin revealed he was hoping the move would be completed, revealing that former Leeds player and former Brann teammate Eirik Bakke was a big influence on his desire to join the club.[10][11] Austin scored a long range effort against Aalesund on 22 July to help earn SK Brann a 2–1 victory, with Austin picking up his 5th booking of the season and as a result a one match ban he revealed it would be his last game for the club.[12]

Leeds United

2012–13 season

On 23 July, SK Brann revealed they had accepted a bid from Leeds United for Austin.[13] Leeds United confirmed the transfer later that day, subject to Austin successfully obtaining a work permit.[14] Austin was given the number 8 shirt at Leeds United for the 2012–13 season.[15]

Austin made his competitive début for Leeds in the first game of the season against Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup on 11 August,[16] followed by a league début for Leeds in their 1–0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[17] His first goal of for the club came in August 2012 in a League Cup match against Oxford United,[18] his first league goal coming against Cardiff City from a free kick in September 2012.[19] Austin scored a further League Cup goal in Leeds' 2–1 victory against Premiership side Everton in the same month.[20] After picking up an injury on international duty, Austin was rested for the match against Charlton Athletic on 23 October.[21]

In a game against Watford in November of the same year, following his stretchering off due to what was initially suspected as broken a leg the game saw Leeds go down to 9 men, with Jason Pearce having already received a red card for Leeds.[22] Scans after the game revealed Austin had not broken his leg but had however cracked his ankle bone and would be ruled out for several months.[23]

Austin returned from injury several months ahead of schedule when he came back into the starting line-up against Nottingham Forest on 26 December. Austin scored an own goal in a 4–2 loss.[24] Austin was sent off for an elbow on Ashley Barnes in Leeds 2–1 loss against Brighton & Hove Albion on 27 April. The subsequent three match ban meant that Austin missed the first two matches of the 2013–14 season.[25]

2013–14 season

After missing the first two games of the season through suspension, Austin was named the new permanent captain of Leeds United on 11 August 2013 after returning to the side from suspension against Leicester City, replacing previous captain Lee Peltier. Austin received the Man of The Match Award in the same game for his impressive performance.[26] Upon being named the New Leeds United Captain, Austin spoke of the title being a 'big honour.[27]

After a shock 2–0 FA Cup defeat against Rochdale on 4 January 2014,[28] and then a 6–0 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday,[29] on the 16 January Austin spoke with the club manager Brian McDermott and decided to step down as the club captain, the captaincy was handed over to Ross McCormack.[2]

2014–15 season

On 1 August, Austin was assigned the Leeds number 4 shirt for the 2014–15 season.[30] On 20 September, Austin scored his first goal of the season in a 3–0 win over local rivals Huddersfield Town.[31] His second goal of the season came from a penalty in the 1-1 draw against Bolton Wanderers on 10 January 2015.[32] On 2 February 2015, transfer deadline day, Leeds put out a statement after significant interest from clubs including Wigan Athletic that Austin would not be sold and would be staying at the club, with Austin also expressing his desire to stay at Leeds.[33]

On 28 February 2015, Austin scored a long range volley for Leeds in a 3–2 defeat against Watford.[34] On 4 April, Austin was given a straight red card and a three-game ban for an off the ball incident against Blackburn Rovers in a 3–0 defeat.[35]

International career

Austin has featured for Jamaica U20, U23 and senior national teams since 2005. He won the Caribbean Cup with Jamaica in 2008, and again in 2010, this time being named Most Valuable Player for the tournament.

Austin scored a freekick in a famous victory for Jamaica against USA on 7 September 2012, to help earn Jamaica a historic 2–1 victory to beat USA for the first time in 19 matches.[36]

He won the Caribbean Cup for the third time, and his second MVP award, as Jamaica captain in the 2014 edition, scoring the winning goal in a 4–3 penalty shootout victory over Trinidad and Tobago.[37]

In media

Austin also featured in Brann's 2011 Cup final song by Fjorden Baby!. The song was a remake of the song World In Motion by English band New Order. Austin rapped the part that was made famous by Jamaican born England international. John Barnes.[38][39]

Career statistics

[40]

Season Club Division League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2008 Brann Tippeligaen 820020102
2009 2024100243
2010 2501000260
2011 2575100308
2012 1244000164
2012–13 Leeds United Championship 3127200384
2013–14 4033000433
2014–15 1310000131
Leeds United Total84610200948
Career Total 174212442020025

Honours

Portmore United
Jamaica

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2012 and 31/08/2012" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "ROSS NAMED NEW SKIPPER". Leeds United Official Site. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "AUSTIN TO MISS OUT ON PRESTON". Leeds United F.C. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Leeds United 1–1 Derby". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Austin's move to Stoke collapses". BBC Sport. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
  6. ↑ "Austin's powers in demand at QPR". Daily Mirror. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "Rodolph Austin – Player Profile". SK Brann.
  8. ↑ "Leeds in swoop for Jamaican international Rodolph Austin".
  9. ↑ "Rodolph Austin admits he wants to join Leeds United". The Scratching Shed. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "Rodolph Austin looks for Leeds deal". Yorkshire Post (Leeds). 16 July 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  11. ↑ "LUFC Bakke big influence on Austin". Vital Leeds. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Rudy Austin celebrated with supporters". SK Brann. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  13. ↑ "Leeds United agree fee for Rodolph Austin with SK Brann". BBC Sport. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  14. ↑ "Deals Agreed For Varney And Austin". Leeds United F.C. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "NEW SQUAD NUMBERS ANNOUNCED". Leeds United F.C. 2012-08-03. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  16. ↑ "SHREWSBURY LIVE". Leeds United F.C. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "Becchio goal secures win against Wolves...". Leeds United F.C. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "OXFORD LIVE". Leeds United F.C. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  19. ↑ "Leeds leave Cardiff empty handed..". Leeds United A.F.C. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  20. ↑ "UNITED SINK EVERTON". Leeds United A.F.C. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  21. ↑ "UNITED v CHARLTON". Leeds United F.C. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  22. ↑ "UNITED v Watford". Leeds United F.C. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  23. ↑ "Midfielder suffers cracked ankle bone...". Leeds United F.C. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  24. ↑ "NOTTINGHAM FOREST v LEEDS UNITED". Leeds United F.C. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  25. ↑ "NINE MAN UNITED FALL AT HOME". Leeds United F.C. 27 April 2013.
  26. ↑ "Leicester Vs Leeds". Leeds United F.C. 11 August 2013.
  27. ↑ "SKIPPER SPEAKS OF HIS PRIDE". Leeds United F.C. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  28. ↑ "Rochdale 2 Leeds 0". BBC Sport. BBC Sport. 4 January 2014.
  29. ↑ "MISERY AT WEDNESDAY". Leeds United AFC. 11 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED". Leeds United. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  31. ↑ "UNITED TAKE DERBY DAY SPOILS". Leeds United Official Site. 20 September 2014.
  32. ↑ "Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Leeds United". www.bbc.co.uk/. BBC Sport. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  33. ↑ "STATEMENT: AUSTIN IS NOT FOR SALE". Leeds United A.F.C. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  34. ↑ "Leeds 2 Watford 3". BBC Sport. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  35. ↑ "Leeds 0 Blackburn Rovers 3". BBC Sport. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  36. ↑ "Reggae Boyz rally for 2–1 win, beating Americans for first time in 19 matches". NBC. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  37. ↑ "AUSTIN CAPTAINS JAMAICA TO GLORY". Leeds United A.F.C. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  38. ↑ "Synger for Brann" [Sings for Brann]. Bergensavisen. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  39. ↑ "John Barnes – Rodolph Austin 0–4". Bergens Tidende (Norway). 28 October 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  40. ↑ Rodolph Austin. NIFS.no.
  41. ↑ http://vglive.no/#eliteguiden=s-borsen-sid-574

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Lee Peltier		 Leeds United captain
2013–2014 		Succeeded by
Ross McCormack